Swansea man facing child rape charges released after posting bail

FALL RIVER — A Swansea man is accused of molesting two young children, as well as exposing them to pornography and taking nude photos of them, while they stayed at his home, according to prosecutors.

However, a lawyer for Lawrence Lamphier, 69, of 34 Picard Court, Swansea, said the allegations are “financially motivated,” and said there had been contention between his client and the children’s mother, a relative of Lamphier.

“This is a situation where he expects to fully fight these charges,” defense attorney Jim Caramanica said.

Lamphier, who posted $10,000 cash bail, declined to comment after he left Fall River District Court, where he was arraigned Tuesday on charges of rape of a child with force and indecent assault and battery on a child under 14.

Swansea police officers arrested Lamphier at his home around 9 p.m. Monday. The arrest followed an investigation that involved the Children’s Advocacy Center of Bristol County, which aided the alleged victims.

On Monday, the two children told a forensic interviewer that Lamphier sexually assaulted them at his Swansea home. The children said they often stayed at the house, according to Assistant District Attorney Matt Lopes, who requested a $100,000 cash bail.

After learning that investigators intended to interview the children, Caramanica said he tried to contact the Swansea Police Department to arrange an interview with Lamphier, a retired auto salesman who moved to Swansea last October with his wife after living in Revere for 40 years.

“He’s got nothing to hide,” Caramanica said.

However, Swansea police officers went to Lamphier’s home while he was asleep and arrested him. They also executed a search warrant and took two cell phones, a computer, a camera and notes that Lamphier had written after speaking with his attorney.Caramanica said the search warrant did not authorize a nighttime raid, and added that he wanted the notes to be returned since they may contain privileged attorney-client information. Judge Kevin Finnerty ordered the notes to be held, and not copied by investigators, pending a further court order. Prosecutors did not object.

Caramanica also said there has been recent tensions between Lamphier and the children’s mother. He said Lamphier was upset after he learned that the children’s father was the mother’s boyfriend, rather than her husband.

The alleged victims’ mother, Caramanica alleged, had also recently been trying to have Lamphier’s wife of 38 years committed to a nursing home for the purpose of pressuring Lamphier to give her money.

“It’s financially motivated. I think that’s going to be clear throughout the course of the proceedings,” Caramanica said, adding that the alleged sexual assaults were based on activities that the children reportedly saw their mother engaging in at home.“And that was disclosed to Mr. Lamphier,” Caramanica said.

Lamphier, who has been selling watches on eBay in retirement, has a prior arrest for assault with a dangerous weapon in Maine when he was a young man, attorneys said. Caramanica told the court that the alleged victims’ mother has prior involvement with the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families.

Lamphier is scheduled to return to court July 14 for a probable cause hearing.

Swansea Police Detective Joey Faria, the lead investigator in the case, is being assisted by Sgt. Joseph Martin and Detective Patrick Mooney. Sgt. Marc Haslam, and officers Alan Lachance and Jared Ulak also assisted.